Phlebotomists can work in a variety of different types of organizations. Certain facilities might be looking for different personal qualities. But, no matter where you apply, you need to make sure your resume is an accurate reflection of what you can offer a potential employer.<\/p>\n
Writing the ideal resume can feel overwhelming if it\u2019s something that you\u2019ve never done before. But, there are some tips that you can use to make your phlebotomy resume look amazing.<\/p>\n
What Should I Include in My Phlebotomy Resume?<\/h2>\n
We will focus on what a good phlebotomy resume should include. We’ll go over a basic outline and what you should be able to fill in for each section. You can use this as a guide if you’re getting into the phlebotomy field or you’ve just completed training.<\/p>\n
It’s never a bad idea to keep your resume updated and add any accomplishments or extra skills. But, we’ll be focusing mainly on how you can make your resume stand out when you’re just getting started as a phlebotomist and want to get hired right away.<\/p>\n
Phlebotomist Resume Objective<\/h3>\n
Every great resume should start out with an objective. The objective should be relatively short and get straight to the point. Think of it as the first impression a potential employer will have of you. If it’s too long and wordy, they might get disinterested and move on.<\/p>\n
The objective of your phlebotomy resume should cover two significant things:<\/p>\n
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- It should state what kind of experience you hope to have as a phlebotomist. Again, this should only be a sentence or two.<\/li>\n
- It should give your potential employer an idea about your goals within a phlebotomy career. These goals can be personal. Maybe your goals are to help many people or to jumpstart a career as a nurse. Think about what you want in the short-term and long-term and concisely include them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Here’s an example of a strong objective statement for a phlebotomy resume:<\/p>\n
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- Seeking a challenging and rewarding phlebotomy technician position. My goals are to use my learned skills and experience to advance my career<\/strong><\/a> and take advantage of opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Everyone’s objective statement will be different. It’s best to keep it to no more than three sentences. Think about what makes you want to be a phlebotomist and why and include that in a summarized version for a truly stand-out objective.<\/p>\n
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Summary of Qualifications<\/h3>\n
Some resumes use a summary of qualifications in place of an objective statement. It’s up to you which format you choose to use. But, a good rule of thumb is to use a summary of qualifications if you’re applying for a specific job at a particular place. This is because you can show off your phlebotomy qualifications based on that job’s description.<\/p>\n
A summary of qualifications is a way to introduce your strengths and skills. But, you can do it in a way that matches a specific job description. You can list your skills in this section, but they should be a reflection of what the employer is looking for. Let’s take a look at an example of a job posting, and what a strong summary of qualifications might be.<\/p>\n
![\"Resume](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/what-to-put-on-a-Phlebotomist-resume.jpeg\")
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- Job posting:<\/strong> Looking for a strong team-player to work in a busy hospital environment. Must have skills in venipuncture, finger sticks, and blood collection procedures. CPR-certified is a plus.<\/li>\n
- Summary of qualifications<\/strong>: Experienced in venipuncture. Does well with finger sticks and work with butterfly needles and syringes. Excels in working with others and works well under pressure. Completed National Phlebotomy Certification exam as well as CPR training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Not only does this summary match what the job description is looking for, but it sneaks in other skills. This option is a great way to let the employer know you’re a perfect fit, and why.<\/p>\n
Including Your Strengths and Skills<\/h3>\n
It’s easy to think that the most critical part of a phlebotomy resume is your work history. While that can make a big difference, you can beef up your resume a bit by including your strengths and skills.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that not all these skills have to reflect a career in phlebotomy. Sometimes, a skill like ‘punctual’ can be more appealing to an employer than you may realize. So, don’t be afraid to include whatever you think makes you unique from other possible employees.<\/p>\n
Some examples of skills might include:<\/p>\n
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- Knowledge of medical terminology<\/li>\n
- Knowledge of different venipuncture methods and sites<\/li>\n
- Energetic<\/li>\n
- 200+ successful blood draws<\/li>\n
- Team-player<\/li>\n
- Bilingual (Spanish and English)<\/li>\n
- Highly organized<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When you’re writing down your list of skills, it’s important not to think in generalities. Almost everyone who wants a phlebotomy job will probably include something in their strengths about how many blood draws they’ve done. They’ll likely also include what they know about medical terms and the anatomy of the human body, etc.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, it’s up to you to include some things that will help your resume stand out from everyone else’s. Many times, it’s the more personal skills and strengths that can catch an employer’s eye and might make them hire you over someone else.<\/p>\n
Past Work Experience<\/h3>\n
Most employers want to know where you’ve worked before and how that can contribute to your career at their facility. When you list your previous places of employment, don’t just say where you worked and when. You should list the duties and responsibilities you had at each job. The more details you can give about your role in your previous jobs, the better.<\/p>\n
For example, if you’ve worked for another medical facility as a phlebotomist, some of the duties you include might be:<\/p>\n
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- Performed routine blood draws<\/li>\n
- Extremely familiar with phlebotomy equipment, including butterfly needles<\/li>\n
- Verified collection of different specimens<\/li>\n
- Communicated with doctors and patients about their orders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Your list of responsibilities from past jobs will be unique to you. This is another area where you should avoid using generalities about phlebotomy jobs. Or, keep them to a small amount and focus on what you did that would be appealing to an employer. You can also include internships if they are applicable.<\/p>\n
When listing your work history, always start with the most recent experience first. Then, work your way down in that order.<\/p>\n
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How to Improve a Phlebotomist Resume with No Experience<\/h2>\n
When you’re just starting out as a phlebotomist, it can be hard to fill in your work experience. Jobs you may have had in the past can show that you’re a dedicated worker. But, most medical employers are going to want you to have experience in the healthcare industry.<\/p>\n
You’ll have to perform many successful venipunctures throughout your training. Each program has a different number that a student has to reach to pass. But, it’s usually over 100.<\/p>\n
While you can use that in your resume, it’s not going to help you to stand out from any other candidate, since everyone has to go through similar training procedures.<\/p>\n
Most hospitals and medical facilities want phlebotomists they hire to have at least a little experience. Otherwise, you may have to work with a supervisor if you do get hired.<\/p>\n
If you’re having trouble getting hired after training, there are ways to gain experience<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n
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- Volunteer<\/strong>: Volunteering is one of the best ways to get phlebotomy experience quickly. It’s more than just hospitals and clinics that are in great need of phlebotomists. Many different organizations need good phlebotomy technicians to help out. While these organizations can’t always pay you, they are great for gaining experience and adding to your resume. Some places that often need phlebotomy volunteers<\/strong><\/a> include nursing homes, blood banks, the Red Cross and veterans’ hospitals.<\/li>\n
- Internship<\/strong>: Some hospitals and clinics give internships to training graduates. Internships are usually unpaid, but you can learn a lot and gain quite a bit of experience.<\/li>\n
- On-the-job training<\/strong>: Certain medical facilities will hire you with no experience if you agree to on-the-job training. In these instances, you’ll be working with a supervisor, and you won’t be able to work alone for a period of time. Unlike internships, on-the-job training can offer you some type of salary. But, it may be limited at first until you’re able to work on your own.<\/li>\n
- Hospital training<\/strong>: Hospitals are especially in need of phlebotomists. So, some of them offer their own training programs. They do this in hopes that the students who go to these programs will want to work in their facilities. Many times, they’ll make these programs somewhat specific to their facility. This includes things like their own safety rules and procedures, etc. You may be more likely to get hired right away by that particular hospital if you train this way.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"phlebotomy](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/phlebotomist-resume-with-no-experience.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs you can see, there are ways to gain experience. So, if you’re struggling with the ‘work experience’ section of your resume, try one of these options. The more hours you can add to your list, the better.<\/p>\n
Where Did You Complete Your Training?<\/h3>\n
The next section of your phlebotomy resume should focus on where you got your schooling\/training.<\/p>\n
It’s important to employers that you trained with an accredited program. For your educational background, it’s okay to list the school\/program you attended, and when you were there. It’s also a good idea to list any extra certifications you might have.<\/p>\n
- Internship<\/strong>: Some hospitals and clinics give internships to training graduates. Internships are usually unpaid, but you can learn a lot and gain quite a bit of experience.<\/li>\n
- Volunteer<\/strong>: Volunteering is one of the best ways to get phlebotomy experience quickly. It’s more than just hospitals and clinics that are in great need of phlebotomists. Many different organizations need good phlebotomy technicians to help out. While these organizations can’t always pay you, they are great for gaining experience and adding to your resume. Some places that often need phlebotomy volunteers<\/strong><\/a> include nursing homes, blood banks, the Red Cross and veterans’ hospitals.<\/li>\n
- Summary of qualifications<\/strong>: Experienced in venipuncture. Does well with finger sticks and work with butterfly needles and syringes. Excels in working with others and works well under pressure. Completed National Phlebotomy Certification exam as well as CPR training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Job posting:<\/strong> Looking for a strong team-player to work in a busy hospital environment. Must have skills in venipuncture, finger sticks, and blood collection procedures. CPR-certified is a plus.<\/li>\n
- Seeking a challenging and rewarding phlebotomy technician position. My goals are to use my learned skills and experience to advance my career<\/strong><\/a> and take advantage of opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Phlebotomist](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/phlebotomist-resume-objective.jpeg\")
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